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editor@seefreenews.com
Dear Editor: While we were working, something happened to our country.
When I grew up in the 50’s life seemed so carefree. I guess a lot of that had something to do with being a dumb kid, with no responsibilities. We went to the small country school with 27 kids and one school teacher located in the small town of Normandy, IL, just to the west of Walnut. In 1946 after W.W.2, our leaders had a decision to make on the economy. Should we tax and spend as Woodrow Wilson and FDR did which was a disaster, or cut government and spending like Warren Harding did, which stopped the short lived hidden depression of 1920 thus creating the roaring 20’s. Thankfully our leaders decided to do nothing. With tires, gas, sugar, and farm implements being rationed, it was a gamble that paid off. What a turn around. Get government out of the way and watch hard working Americans roll up their sleeves and make things happen. (Take note Mr. President.) In the early 1950s, my dad bought a full line of farm machinery and paid for it in one year. While we were so busy working, paying our mortgage, taxes, and insurance, things turned around. My school teacher, Mrs. House, taught 8 grades. Our local police were janitors at the school by day, and police by night. Our politicians were more concerned about the people than the lobbyists. All were called public servants, who made on the most part less than those paying the taxes.
Now the top 100 State Police annual salary = $142,636, and the top 100 IL. education pension payout range from $178,000 to $390,000 per year/ 2008-2009. Not to mention our Politicians gold plated pensions, and lavish health care that is exclusive to them. Wake up America! Look up the National debt clock. With the unfunded liabilities our government is giving our grandchildren a bill for $110 Trillion, that’s $354 thousand per citizen, or $1 million per tax payer. Forget patronage to your political party. We must vote the tax and spenders out! Do nothing and hope for the best, or get involved, get educated.
Stephenson County Tea Party meeting, Aug. 12th. 7pm, at Dietz’s Old School Apartments, 111 E. Mason St. Lena, IL. Jim Tobin from the IL. Taxpayers United will be our guest Speaker. He will come loaded with facts and figures on IL. spending. Bill Dietz ph. 815-369-4334, e-mail stepcoteaparty@aeroinc.net
Stop the Gusher
The gusher just goes on and on. The emissions are totally incomprehensible, as is the long-term damage. We tried to cap it, and it didn't slow a bit. We tried plugging the hole, and, again, met with total failure. If one even tries to get a close look at the spewing torrent, it just obscures any frame of reference. There's just no way to comprehend the scale of this disaster.
The Administration has yet to call upon industry experts. Help from European experts was rejected out of hand. Governors ready to implement solutions, such as Bobby Jindal or Chris Christie, are actively thwarted by the federal government.
The leaks just go on. If it took you a minute to read this far, 2.4 manufacturing jobs have swirled down the drain. $13,889 have gushed through the wide-open spigot of Illinois government spending. Against the sage advice of some Europeans who've learned the hard way, we've permitted the grandaddy of all gushers, the federal government, to throw $6,883,561 into the abyss. In just one minute.
The CBO reports current federal debt as $13 trillion. This is really more like an Enron or AIG accounting trick. Corporations are required to include known obligations on their balance sheet. Using this standard, the net result of all this gushing is an estimated total (local + state + federal) government debt obligation of $130 trillion. I know, it's an incomprehensible number. For scale, consider this: The total net worth of all private assets in the United States is estimated at $50-60 trillion. In other words, if the various governments confiscated all private property, they'd be able to pay about half of what they (we) owe. Once we've forfeited everything we own, just what are our children and grandchildren supposed to sell off to pay the rest?
Terry Smith
Lanark
(Received July 15, 2010)
July 1, 2010 Letter to the Editor from Bill Dietz:
So much, so fast, happening in just the last couple of days. The people have a win with the Supreme Court’s decision on Second Amendment gun rights. At the G-20 meetings, who would ever believe other Nations would tell Obama to cut spending? A list of governments in danger of default apparently included the U.S. after citing Greece, Spain, Portugal and a couple others, our own State of Illinois was found on the list.
We've heard more about our government’s desire to control the Internet, and freedom of speech?
Obama appointed Harold Hurt to head up the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of State and Local Coordination. Harold previously set up Houston as a Sanctuary City for Illegals. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis told Illegals they have a right to a fair wage and her department will help. Stay tuned.
How do you keep up with it all?
Obama promised to provide the most transparent government ever, saying the health care debates would be on C-Span. I must have missed that.
After Bush’s first year in office, Freedom of Information Act denials totaled 47,395. After Obama's first year 70,779 denials. The Associated Press examined 17 other agencies and found 466,872 denials, an increase of 50% from Bush’s first fiscal year. For Democracy to work, citizens need access to the information about what government’s doing.
Your Tea Party is meeting 7pm, July 8th, 111 E. Mason St., Lena IL. Brian Costin from the IL. Policy Institute will speak on a couple of topics, including Transparency of our Government. Come early. A couple of short videos we’ll be running a few minutes before the meeting will make you either laugh or cry! Board members of taxing bodies are encouraged to attend. Stephenson County Tea Party, Bill Dietz stepcoteaparty@aeroinc.net ph. 815-369-4334 Everyone’s welcome.
June 3, 2010, a letter from Bill Dietz:
Citizens, don't let the fire go out, stay involved, especially as we think of the blood, sweat, tears, and lives our great soldiers sacrificed over the past 200 plus years on this past Memorial Day weekend. Let us not take our first amendment rights for granted; freedom of the press, religion, speech, and the second amendment, the right to own and bear arms. Our gun rights have already been compromised. We see what is happening in Venezuela under Hugo Chaves, trampling on citizens rights in every area. Even though I like the stand the Australians are taking against radical Muslim immigration, they did take away the right to bear arms in 1996. In America we saw President Obama try to keep Fox News out of a meeting that other networks were invited to. More of this will come our way if "We the People" do not take a stand. This is not the time for indifference, be diligent, be active. If we wait for the next person to do it, it won't get done. "To sin by silence when they
Mark it on your calendar! Stephenson County Tea Party next meeting June 10th, 7 pm., Dietz's Old School Apartments, 111 E. Mason St. Lena IL. Guest speaker, Savannah Liston. Home schooled, this 16 year old will be talking on economics of our country, as well as our gift of Liberty. Savannah has served as County Coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty and has been involved with Tea Party groups. She has received scholarship to attend courses in economics and history at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, as well a scholarship to Jekyll Island on economics with Ron Paul, Tom Woods and others. Please put a lawn chair in your car trunk incase we have to move to the Gym. All Fiscal Conservatives are welcome. Bill Dietz Lena IL. stepcoteaparty@aeroinc.net PH. 815-369-4334
Dear Editor: This is a letter I wrote to State Representative Jim Sacia on his last weeks letter about saving State Troopers jobs. (Received May 22, 2010.)
Jim, I think you know I agree with you most of the time, but I disagree with your last weeks article on a few points about saving the State Troopers jobs.
1- You say the argument is thrown out the window that money is lost from local government, because it saves troopers jobs. The fact is that money does leave the local government weather trooper jobs are lost or saved. Also, if they get a higher % of the fines, it will just give them more incentive to write more tickets when they need money.
2- It appears that you are disappointed that the Supreme Court will not allow you to raise traffic fines above $75 to pay to keep the troopers on. That is just another tax increase, which would be sad. It appears that you are always ready to do most anything to help out the police. That is understandable since you are a FBI (retired) agent. I want to encourage you to stay focus on the taxpayer more than keeping government jobs.
3- Please read Jim Tobin's letter and other info. from the < http://www.ntui.org > Taxpayers United of IL. about the Trooper layoffs. It is outrageous that 35% make over $100,000 per year and I assume plus benefits. That is more than twice what my wife and I make together and we have no benefits. We pay for them all out of our own pocket. But that is the way it is for a private business man that pays all the taxes to support government jobs. Jim, you have so many good ideas on how to cut spending and I wish you the best in getting some of them implemented. I have another idea. Tell me what is wrong with the idea of cutting salaries and pensions on all government employees who make over the median income until the budget is balanced? What a incentive that would be to cut out the waste, pork, fat or what ever you want to call it. Don't forget us! God Bless you.
Bill Dietz
"Occupants of public office love power and are prone to misuse it."
George Washington
Dear Editor,
As another year for Highland Community College’s Adult Education Volunteer Literacy Program ends, we pay tribute to our volunteer tutors who commit their time and talents to benefit our students and the entities that provide convenient tutoring space.
Dedicated tutors show compassion, patience and understanding while tutoring students. Volunteers become a teacher, a confidant, a role model, and a trusted friend. They accept their responsibility with dedication, and give precious time to help student’s goals become a reality.
Our volunteers make profound differences in the lives of students. Through their tutelage, students are enabled to pass the GED, improve basic math and reading skills, and improve English. We are grateful for the many citizens that have tutored and are currently tutoring. Volunteers within the Highland Community District have committed themselves in striving toward a more literate society.
We appreciate the tutoring sites where volunteers and students meet. Tutoring has occurred at the following sites in the last few years: public libraries (Freeport, Stockton, Lena, Forreston, Pecatonica, Mt. Morris, Mt. Carroll, Savanna, and Galena), churches (Faith United Methodist Church and St. John United Church of Christ in Freeport, Faith Community Church in Davis, and Savanna First United Methodist Church), US Bank in Rock City, FACC and FHA facilities in Freeport, Stockton Public School, Stephenson County Jail, Mt. Morris Senior Center, Carroll County Courthouse, HCC in Freeport and Elizabeth.
On behalf of our committed students, THANK YOU.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in the Adult Education Literacy Program, know of someone who could benefit from our services, or have space for tutoring, please call 815-599-3538.
Sincerely,
HCC Adult Ed Volunteer Literacy Program
Stephenson County Tea Party May 13th, 7 PM
Dear Editor.
The response to the Tea Party has been incredible. Patriots are worried about the direction our great country is headed. The Tea Party’s primary focus is to turn the clock back on taxing, spending, and return to a smaller, less intrusive government.
It has reached the point where we don't really own/control our property anymore. With the high real estate taxes, it sometimes feels we really just rent it from the government. The government now requires we purchase permits to do most improvements. Last fall in the city of Freeport I put less than one square of shingles on the front porch of my rental house. A building inspector asked if I had a permit to put on the shingles. I was honest and said ‘no.’ He then put a 'stop work' order against me, made me buy a permit for $22, and pay a fine of $50. What a lawbreaker I am for repairing my own property. He then informed me that even if I purchased a permit, and paid my fine, I still could not proceed because I was not a licensed roofing contractor. What! It is my property. Why can't I work on my own property? (Update: now landlords can roof their own properties if they jump through the proper hoops.)
No wonder there are so many vacant properties in Freeport. Isn't it wonderful to know we have another bureaucracy to pay for, another building inspector to protect us, and from what? Ourselves? I had 35 rental units in Freeport. I transformed several drug houses into respectable living quarters. I started selling them off a couple of years ago because of all the new red tape. I am down to only five units and the house mentioned is for sale for 20 % less than what they are taxing me. In order for me as a landlord to do most any work over $100, I must register in Freeport as a contractor, cost: $220 and $110 every year there after; get a permit for most all jobs over $100, cost: $22 per project. A new state law dictates I must take a "Lead safety class", cost: $175 to $300, then register with the state, cost: $300. Then I must have either $1million liability insurance or workman's comp even though I have no employees, cost: $1000. Total cost: $1700! Or... I can go to Stockton, Lanark, or Lena where I have had some units and never worry if the inspector is going to fine me. Bottom line... government is too intrusive and growing.
Of new jobs, 40% are government jobs compared to only 28% in the private sector. So who is going to pay for the new government jobs? You and I of course. Keep an eye on Greece's financial collapse as union and government workers outnumber the private sector. That will be the future of the USA if we don't reduce government now!
I must give Mayor Gaulrapp credit for taking a pay cut. Now, if he can only persuade some of the other entities to do the same. The rest of us in the private sector have all had to make cuts.
Let's come together and vote the tax and spenders out this November. Join us at the Stephenson County Tea Party May 13th, 7 PM at Dietz 's Old School Apartments, Lena IL. - 111 E. Mason St. by Dollar General. All fiscally conservative Americans are welcome, E-mail
stepcoteaparty@aeroinc.net or ph. 815-369-4334 Bill Dietz Lena IL.
July 22, 2009
Dear Editor:
The American Red Cross Northwest Illinois Chapter is pleased to announce its successful conclusion of the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Bagram Air Force Base Donation Campaign.
The Campaign, which officially ended June 5, sought items such as candy, cookies, granola bars, beef jerky, sundry, individual drink mix items and money for mailing from people in the 3-county area we serve.
Donations permitted the Chapter to send 26 boxes to the Red Cross Station’s Canteen at Bagram AFB, in Afghanistan. According to Tom Smith, SAF Team Leader at Bagram, the donated items were a “big hit” with the troops and more donations were requested. Smith said the individual donor may only see a “small contribution” but the Red Cross team can “see the smiles and many thanks” given by the troops who benefitted from the campaign.
The ARCNIC will soon call upon the public again to aid the troops stationed overseas.
For now, we thank everyone for their generosity and their support of our inaugural Campaign effort, and in particular, for the invaluable assistance provided by Sullivan Foods.
Carol Risinger
Volunteer Coordinator
American Red Cross
Northwest Illinois Chapter
June 22, 2009
Letter to the Editor
Grace Church says “Thank you!”
On Thursday June 19th the Grace Episcopal Church steeple at 10 S. Cherry St. was struck be lightning. The lightning started the steeple on fire. Within minutes of being called the Adams Street Company was at Grace church. They immediately extinguished the flames. Then they carefully covered and moved the church valuables including the choir robes and books so they would not be damaged. They covered the bell tower floor with a tarp so water would not flow into the basement. The firemen worked diligently to make sure the fire was out. They flooded the fire area to make sure there were no hidden sparks. Most of the water ran out of the church because of the tarps they had laid. The fire men had to be careful to maneuver their equipment around the overhead power lines that run past the church on both Stephenson St and Cherry St. The firemen went out of their way to make sure everything was safe and secure. They left their tarps on the church valuables so that water dripping from the steeple would not cause damage. I feel that we have an excellent fire department that should be commended on the excellent job they do. Because of the excellent job the firemen did we are able to hold the 8 AM and 10AM on Sunday
Keith Chesterton
Grace Episcopal Church